Spring Splash 2008 - Update!

Despite some less than impressive looking weather forecasting - the Spring Splash is still on! It's not going to be hot and sunny from the looks of things but we still have spring to celebrate and with any luck the rain will only be around for the morning so we should be fine by the afternoon. Bring something warm to put on afterwards! And just to be safe- False Bay Volunteer EMS will be there on standby in case of hypothermia! Get out of your comfort zone and come down to the beach on Sunday for the Spring Splash 2008. And the whales are in the bay - 6 of them on show today!!!

Check out the cartoon that Gavin Thomson did for the Peoples Post False Bay Edition on Tuesday 26 August!

Date: Sunday 31 August 2008
Time: 3h30 pm
Venue: Fish Hoek Beach in front of Fish Hoek Galley
Bring: cozzie, towel, friends, attitude and something warm!

Weather Forecast Sunday, 31 August 2008

Min Temp 7 ºC
Max Temp 14 ºC

Description Cloudy, rain mainly morning (60%)
Wind Description fresh north-westerly
Wind AM 30 km/h north-westerly

Sun Rise 07:05
Sun Set 18:26
Moon Rise 07:14
Moon Set 19:18
Moon Phase New Moon

Spring Splash 2008

CAPE POINT ROUTE is celebrating spring and the start of season

with a SPRING SPLASH on 31 AUGUST at FISH HOEK BEACH ….

...Just because we can and so can you!

DATE: Sunday 31 August 2008

TIME: 15h30.

VENUE: Fish Hoek Beach, in front of Fish Hoek Galley

BRING: Cozzie, towel , friends & ATTITUDE

Join the celebration of the People of the South to shrug off winter and welcome the start of season. Tourism is everyone’s business so let’s do it together. It’s free, it’s fun and we want as many people as possible to join together for a spring splash. No registration, no entry fee, no charity, no fundraising.

Bring your friends, relatives, kids, grandparents, staff …and yourself.

See you there (rain or shine!!)

THE CPR GIRLS

Sally, Barbara and Kelly

Images courtesy of Polar Bear Club (Clifton)

Cape Point Route
Voted 2007 South African Tourism
Best Destination Marketing Campaign
tel 021 782 9356 fax 021 782 9346
email info@capepointroute.co.za
website www.capepointroute.co.za

And while I am blogging again - the Cape Point Route has just received another good news story from Baboon Matters - sent to us by Jenni Trethowan. Great to hear a feel good story.

"There are so many BAD NEWS stories at the moment, in fact it seems that our lives are dominated by talk of natural disasters,political woe, high prices etc.

It is not often that somebody does something really nice for you. Rare indeed that anything is done without expectation.So I thought I would share with you a story of GOOD NEWS….

Last year the Baboon Matters bakkie was totally trashed in a car accident.We really needed the vehicle and were hugely disappointed to loose it.Then my own hardworking bakkie died (after a long and bravely fought illness).

In the past 2 months Baboon Matters has dealt with 8 critically injured baboons – only one survived.We were really pushed in our last situation when a young dispersing male took off – without the bakkie we were of minimal help to the already overloaded SPCA. Just getting to and from work has been a nightmare, and getting out to check on the monitors almost impossible. Good news??? Absolutely!

Our dearly loved Juliette Bass took matters in hand and faxed our newsletter to Adam Murry. The newsletter contained an article about the car accident and appeal for help.So Adam, being the star that he is, made a call from the UK.
After speaking to Marlei he made a quick decision to help; organised things with the Murry Foundation and he brought us a new bakkie!!

Many of you won’t have heard of either Adam Murry or Juliette Bass, so you don’t know that these two are really as close to angels as you will find. Both Adam and Juliette have a long history of fighting for causes – for animals, children – music! – to name a few. They are the type of folk who just help, they don’t particularly like fuss or attention – and they certainly don’t want anything in return.

But we at Baboon Matters want to give Juliette and Adam the biggest loudest thanks we can. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. What a wonderful new bakkie!

It is good news indeed!! It has lifted our spirits greatly to receive such a gift. It is hugely appreciated that the practical aspects of getting around – transporting monitors and cages, getting injured baboons to the vet etc -are again taken care of.

But mainly it was such incredible generosity of spirit that has just made us smile – beam!!It is so good know that there are wonderful things all around us – every day. Sometimes the good things are hidden for a while, but they are there waiting to be happen.

And that is why I wanted to share this story with all of you. I hope you day is filled with hope and happiness and that good news stories abound!"

Jenni Trethowan; Baboon Matters.
http://www.capepointroute.co.za/hiking.php

Sunpath Sacred Site Tours

We haven't been blogging much but I had to post this comment that was sent to Dean Liprini of Sunpath Sacred Site Tours. Dean runs fascinating tours to scared sites, exploring energy lines,sun and moon shrines of the Ancient Cape People as well as some phenomenal rock art sites. Please see the link about Sunpath Sacred Site tours. http://www.capepointroute.co.za/hiking.php

"A friend of mine Mark Frankel gave me your book for my birthday. I
have been walking in the mountains since I was 10 years old being a
native capetonian. I have seen faces in everything. However after
reading the book in one night I decided to walk up Elsies Peak to see if
my consciousness and eyes were opened by the knowledge in the book. I
was blown away. I saw many formations and sundials and sentinals. I was
so overtaken by emotion that I hugged a huge stone face and called him
grandfather. Swifts and starlings buzzed and swushed passed me as though
I was in a different world. The emotions were so strong that I
eventually had to come off the mountain.

Thanks Dean for helping me see what was there all along."

Charles Maisel

Best Destination Marketing Campaign Award One Year Anniversary!

We were reminiscing this morning as it was exactly a year ago that the Cape Point Route Association walked away with top honours in Southern Africa for Best Destination Marketing Campaign at the Best in Tourism Marketing Awards hosted by South African tourism and Thebe Tourism and Events. The awards ceremony was held to acknowledge and reward outstanding achievement, excellence and creativity in marketing business tourism. The awards are not being hosted in 2008 so we are delighted to retain the title for another year.

It is hard to believe that a year has flown by and the destination marketing campaign has gone from strength to strength. Cape Point Route made a huge impact at Indaba 2007 with all the participants racing around Durban in bright orange t-shirts and talking with passion about our beloved destination. The www.capepointroute.co.za website has been upgraded and is being well received by visitors and product owners alike. The 2008 Guide to the Cape Point Route was launched in November 2007 for the summer season and distribution and demand has exceeded all expectations with requests coming from embassies worldwide to get stock of the brochure!

Despite the accolodes and recognition the true success of the destination marketing campaign continues to lie with the people who live, work and play in the beautiful Cape Peninsula. Without their commitment, enthuiasm and passion for their products and their home this destination would be just another pretty place to drive through and take pictures. Which just goes to prove once again that we are not a one night stand, we are worth at least three!

Love and Romance on the Cape Point Route

Hi there,

With the festive season and summer I have slacked off on the blogging but it is time to get back on track. Romance is in the air with Valentines Day on Thursday 14 Feb and most restaurants on the Cape Point Route have special offers for couples. Some of our suggestions are Boulders Beach Restaurant in Simon's Town, Thorfynns Restaurant at Monkey Valley Resort, Fish Hoek Galley at Fish Hoek Beach or try one of the restaurants at Noordhoek Farm Village. Rioja has opened at the old Solole Game Reserve and Pure at Hout Bay Manor is a great fine dining option. Do contact us for suggestions if these are fully booked or you looking for a sneaky alternative.

There are countless romantic options for lovers on the Cape Point Route - long walks on the beach, sunset picnics on Chapman's Peak Drive, boat cruises, or moonlight walks. There are some great delis to grab a picnic basket and don't forget the candles and the flowers!

Here is a selection of some of the events taking place on the Cape Point Route this week and into the weekend. Have a good one.

Thursday, 14th February 2008
Valentines Dinner at Fogeys Restaurant. Instead of a set menu we will be offering a selected menu from our new revised A la Carte menu with some tantalising specials. Amanda Tiffin will be playing some classic love songs accompanied by Shaun Johannes on Bass. We are normally fully booked for this event so please book early. Cover is R25 per head. Call 021 7883252 to make a booking

Friday, 15th February 2008
Mixed Brew will be performing at Fogeys Restaurant. Come watch as they present their magic entertainment and talent. Paul and Mike play a wide variety of music to fulfill your evening out. Come along and create the party with Mixed Brew. You can be reassured of an awesome evening out. Cover R25 – music starts at 8pm. Call 021 7883252 to make a booking.

Saturday, 16th February 2008:
Robin Auld will be performing at Cape Farm House. The Robin Auld Trio with Kevin Gibson and Schalk Joubert will be playing an electric and definitely plugged set, showcasing an album of new material and a selection of older tunes in classic rootspop style!
Address: Junction M66 and M65, bottom of Redhill Road 3km Past Scarborough
Phone: 021 780 1246
Time: 13h00 Gates 15h00
Cash bar and light meals available…. Al la carte menu available till 15h00
Cost: R50 Adults and R40 Students
Call 021 7883252 to make a booking

Festival Fever

It sure has been busy. I attended a workshop in Somerset West on the 3rd and 4th September - fresh from my spring splash and was great to hear the planning and action from the region in preparation for the 2010 Soccer World Cup to be hosted in South Africa - made me really excited.

Of course World Cup Rugby 2007 has started in France so eyes glued to the TV screens and we wish the Springboks the ultimate success and hope they bring the trophy home! Meanwhile the action is happening on home soil with Twenty 20 cricket, so more major sporting distractions for us all.

But somehow despite all the international competitions, the Cape Point Route has still been a buzz with festival fever. Last weekend was the Simon's Town Penguin Festival - we were priviledged to be invited to the opening launch and auction which was a real BEACH PARTY at Boulders Beach Lodge. Thanks to the team there for a fantastic evening and hope you raised loads of money for the penguins and SANCCOB. There seemed to be generous opening of wallets!

The weekend was jam packed with the environmental marquee on Jubilee Square as one of the main hits of the festival. Fascinating shows and talks, displays and activity were centered around the festival theme of preserving the environment in which we live. I am absolutely convinced no other festival is as environmentally conscious as the Simon's Town Penguin Festival - well done to the organisers and the community for highlighting the needs and concerns we face in today's global world.

But it was certainly not all doom and gloom - we had fun by participating in the Anything that Floats competition. Cape Point Route made an iceberg and had penguins on holiday cruising into the Simon's Town harbour where we were proud to win the most Seaworthy craft. (not too hard as we cheated and used a existing boat!)We were super impressed with the Girl Guide's Yellow Submarine float and faced stiff competition from King Neptune and his maidens from Mach 1 Security, although it may have been more leisurely to be pulled along by a kayak?!

The 5 km Fun Run/ Walk/ Waddle was just a little to close in time for us to get off the water and to the start line for a jog past the penguin colony, but we were delighted to see Darden Lotz of SANCCOB coming in for 3rd place in the Ladies section. Well done.

I will try and get some Penguin Festival Pictures up soon despite more excitement with the Baysider.com Spring Regatta on its way this weekend. When you see spinnakers and sails out in Fish Hoek Bay - it's the regatta. And if you want to get closer to the action call the False Bay Yacht Club on 021 786 1703 to book a spot in the spectator boat that will be heading out for the start of the day's racing. A chance not to be missed.

Cheers for now and enjoy the whales - daily sightings, lots of playing, leaping, lob tailing and spyhopping action from the sea giants!

Sally